Justin Allen has a man-crush on the Bulls

Two games. That's all it took for me to believe this Chicago Bulls team is for real.

Two of the best post-Jordan era NBA games I've ever seen, and I'm officially man-smitten. So much so that I'm ready to make the following epically bold prediction: the Bulls will win this series.

One more time for dramatic effect: the Bulls will defeat the heavily favored, defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics to advance to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.

Chances are you don't share my Cubs-fan-esque optimism, so allow me a moment to explain.

You see, since His Airness left town, Chicago has been void of anything
resembling an NBA team, let alone one with heart and determination.
Fans became cynical and passive as they watched sub-par Bulls team
after sub-par Bulls team flounder through each season. Admittedly, I
was responsible for my fair share of that cynicism.

As a former Bulls beat writer for The Heckler, it was my job to watch
each game and make fun of everything that was wrong with the team.
Now, as a writer and producer for The Chicago Sports Week in Review,
I've traded printed sarcasm for lampooning via video. But for all
that's wrong with this Bulls team (I'm looking at you, Joakim Noah), if
the past two games tell us anything, there is so much that is right.

Take, for example, the record-tying 36-point rookie playoff debut by
Derrick Rose in Game 1. Simply amazing. And despite losing Game 2 in
heartbreaking fashion on a last-second three-pointer by Ray Allen, Ben
Gordon hung 42 points on the defending champs and stepped up as the
veteran leader the Bulls have been searching for. Hell, I'll even give
Noah a pass for playing with heart and passion---something the NBA as a
whole has been missing for years.

Above all, these Bulls play as a team, a rarity in the NBA. There's
something about this team that seems to love the fact that they're such
heavy underdogs. What they lack in size, experience and talent, they
make up for with grit, determination and scrappiness. Akin to a 12
seed taking on a one seed in the NCAA tournament, you just can't help
but root for this Bulls team and hope for the proverbial Disney ending.

So here's to you, Chicago Bulls. Thank you for replacing some of that
dismissive sarcasm with a little hope and optimism. Thank you for
playing like a team instead of a group of selfish individuals. But
most of all, thank you for renewing my hatred of all sports teams from
Boston.

It only took me two games to realize this Bulls team is for real. How many will it take you?

Joakim Noah is what's wrong with this team? Man, what are you smoking? Noah is all that's RIGHT with this team. He plays every game with passion and determination. He gives 100%! He does not take a night off. He has improved his game from last year, and has done more, with little than any other player in this league. I dare you to find another player who has better numbers with his minutes (24). You are nothing but a HATER.